Scoring the Games: How Music Will Shape the 2024 Summer Olympics

by Danielle Venne, ECD, Music Production

When you think of the Olympic Games, a vivid flood of memories and images probably come to your mind. But what do you hear inside your head when you think of the Games? Is it Vangelis’ iconic “Chariots of Fire Theme,” is it John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare and Theme,” or do you recall a famous artist whose performance in the opening ceremonies defined that moment for you? Whatever comes to your mind, make no mistake that music always has and always will score the experience of the Olympic Games.

Sure, we all know that this the apex event to see the best athletes in the world compete, but how is the experience so emotionally evocative? Music plays a significant role in sporting events, even if we’re not aware of it. We know through research that music has the power to subconsciously affect us emotionally, to heighten the experience and connect the athletes to popular culture. Each year the execution is both highly strategic and brilliantly imagined. Let’s look at a few ways that the Olympics have and will use music to score this event.

Opening & Closing Ceremonies

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games is a spectacle unlike any other. Throughout the entire history of the games, music has been specifically composed and selected for these occasions, often featuring household names. The range of artists and composers selected for these ceremonies is breathtaking. Where else could you have a master of modern orchestral music (John Williams, Los Angeles 1984) and also have a master of modern electronic music (Bjork, Athens 2004)?

Or consider how music pays homage to the iconic artists of the host country. Two performances that connected the host city with iconic artists: Sir Paul McCartney singing “Hey Jude” in London 2012, and Luciano Pavoratti singing in Turin, 2006. Other times the music in the opening and closing ceremonies will reflect a deep cultural tradition brought to life. For the Beijing 2008 opening ceremony, 2,008 drummers performed a breathtaking spectacle using modern versions of an ancient Chinese percussion instrument (the Chinese fou).

Broadcast

Beyond the opening ceremonies, the use of music will continue to score the entire televised experience. No matter what platform you view the games on, the choice of music to bump in or out of commercial will be carefully selected to enhance the anticipation and drama of the competition. Often, viewers aren’t even aware of the music’s use during a live broadcast – but they still feel the effects of it. In our experience, this is perfectly normal and actually a sign that music is doing its job.

Think about the last movie you watched where you felt any sort of heightened emotion. There is a likelihood that you weren’t aware of the music first and foremost, but it was actually doing a lot of work on your subconscious. George Lucas once said “Sound is 50 percent of the movie going experience.” This applies to watching live sporting events as well, and you can expect it to be a part of the upcoming Olympic Games broadcast.

In fact, as a special integration for 2024, the Opening Ceremony and some of the live coverage will be screened in IMAX at AMC Theaters in the United States, adding another layer of immersive audio entertainment that make the event feel bigger and more exciting than ever.

Artist Partnerships

In between the action of the games, sponsorships and promos for upcoming events will heavily leverage music to both increase the emotional intensity of the experience and connect it to popular culture. We’ve already seen a promo campaign back in the fall of 2023 starring Megan Thee Stallion promoting the games on NBC (“…and that is Thee Olympics, Hot Girl Style”). A full year in advance of the opening ceremonies, Dolly Parton has released a version of the iconic Queen anthems “We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You,” which will undoubtedly show back up again in the broadcast of the actual games this summer.

Artist partnerships aren’t just limited to performances and promo campaigns, this year we will also see Snoop Dogg join NBCUniversal to provide regular reports from Paris, adding commentary and his own unique perspective to the broadcast.

Whether you watch just the opening ceremony, fanatically follow synchronized swimming, or keep the Olympic Games on a screen at all times, this year, keep your ears tuned in a little more carefully. You might feel a deeper connection to the athletes, the host city and the larger phenomenon of the Olympic Games.